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Every year we make resolutions we can’t keep, then punish ourselves with weeks of guilt for failing at our new year’s goals. Avoid the guilt this year by making resolutions you CAN actually keep.

Make these easy to follow resolutions that will improve your health, and the way you feel every day.

1) Sleep More

Did you know that those who sleep more also weigh less? It’s not that far-fetched of an idea if you think about it. The more time you spend sleeping, the less time you spend eating! Also, those who sleep more have lower levels of stress. Sleeping also helps reduce bags under your eyes.

2) Eat More Peppers

Peppers, specifically pickled peppers, burn fat. Eating spicy foods twice a day can help you burn more calories every day. By resolving to make dietary changes, instead of straight losing weight, you won’t feel guilty if you don’t reach a particular number.

3) Incorporate Activity

Making a resolution to exercise or hit the gym can be hard to accomplish when you work full time, have children, or both. While doing an hour of cardio or getting a personal trainer may be out of the question, you can resolve to incorporate some activity into your daily routine. Whether you go far a short walk when you get home each night or during your lunch break, or do a short workout video at home, getting active will give you more energy and counter some of the calories you intake each day.

4) Eat Less Sodium

We aren’t really aware of how much sodium we really do eat, and how incredibly bad it is for us. Many Americans will turn to processed bars, snack bags, and frozen meals to help them reach their weight loss goals this year. Unfortunately these diet side kicks offer up way more sodium than recommended. You can lose weight without the added sodium. Instead of a frozen meal try a tasty salad, mixed vegetables, fresh protein, or a fruit salad.

5) Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

Finally, don’t spend your year feeling bad about yourself. Women spend too much time wishing for better bodies, punishing themselves for not having it, and worrying about how others see them. It’s your life, and you only get to live it once. This year resolve to enjoy your year. Eat the foods you love in moderation. Resolve to travel, see, and experience new things. Take the time you would spend envying other people for their looks, and become someone others can envy for being you.

Every man or woman who wasn’t born with perfect genetics has wondered at least once whether or not someone can love them regardless of how they look on the outside. Living in LA not a week goes by that I don’t have a friend ask me why men only treat hot women right. They wonder if someone will ever love them for who they are, not despite lacking big breasts, a flat stomach, thick hair or a perfect smile. We all want to be loved, but we all think we have to achieve some sort of visual perfection to achieve it.

Why do we think that way?

From an early age we’re teased for being overweight or awkward looking. Young boys learn to taunt overweight girls practically from the time they come out of the womb. How can a growing boy expect to enter into a relationship with a chubby girl when all of his friends are making fun of her? For heavy women the formative years are the most difficult. While others are entering into relationships, going to dances, having crushes, many overweight girls are doing their best to conceal their true feelings. The overweight girl is either hiding from sight or being everyone’s best friend, but she’s not the object of affection.

Then college comes, and all those tiny cheerleader sized women start to gain the Freshmen 15. The playing field starts to even out as the football stars start to gain their weight in beer, and the calories that were once burned on the field are now carried in the gut. The once “chubby” girls are starting to get dates, and attention they never had before. However, is this love the same kind of love they had always hoped for? Are they being seen as sexy, hot, alluring? Or are they being taken out on dates, simply because they are more accessible?

I have always wondered if someone can truly love someone regardless of appearances. I know that you can “learn” to love someone despite them being overweight or not as pretty, but that isn’t the same thing is being head over heels “in love” with someone. My ex put it best when he said to me, “I will always love you, but I’m not in love with you.” He couldn’t see past my weight, because for him love was reserved for women with perfect petite bodies, big breasts, and perfect faces.

I work in a male dominant industry, I grew up with many male friends, and so I have heard all about the hatred many men have for heavy women. To hear these men speak it’s as if a woman’s choice to not be fit is a personal attack against each and every one of them. Where does this hatred come from? Why can’t we leave people alone to make their own choices for their own lives. Why do we act disgusted when we see them simply living the way they like? I personally am very disappointed by people who find it necessary to make comments about others’ weight. There’s just no reason for it. Unless your loved one is obese, and experiencing health issues, it isn’t your place to judge. Spend more time judging your own choices, regretting your own life mistakes, and changing things about yourself which are undesirable.

As for the question of whether or not someone can love someone, truly love them regardless of how they look I do think it is possible. I don’t think it’s possible for many people, but it is possible. I read a great article today of one such story. Reading it gave me hope that there are people out there who can be kind and loving and genuinely happily IN LOVE with someone despite their body fat percentage. Read this great story here.

March may be coming to an end, but there are still a few more weeks of Spring time to enjoy before you have to get into a bikini. Spring time is always a beautiful time for nature. Everywhere I go I see trees blossoming, with beautiful flowers of pink and purple. It’s also causing my allergies to go haywire. Always remember to take some type of allergy medication (Claritin, Zertec, etc) before heading out to enjoy the natural beauty of Spring.

Spring time is also a lovely time for fashion. Pretty floral prints are abundant, and pastel colors are in. Walk into any store during Spring, and you will find items in mint, soft pink, and pastel purple all around. The weather begins to warm up, so you can ditch your heavy coats, and show some leg. Trouble with that is, your legs might not be in the best shape after a winter of comfort foods.

That is why some of my hot buys for this Spring included items that will help me get in shape for the summer months. Here are my hot buys for Spring 2013:

The hardest part about weight loss is keeping the weight off. The ability to keep the pounds off takes self-motivation, but it also requires support. Our loved ones and peers influence many aspects of our lives, and that includes what and when we eat.

When we meet up with friends it’s over drinks or dinner. When we’re dating someone new most dates include food. When we get comfortable in a relationship, we sit at home snacking together in front of a TV. The ones we love get used to our personalities, our habits, and the way we look. Change can be uncomfortable and unwelcomed, but what do you do when you need to change for your health? You can’t put the needs of others before the needs of yourself especially when it comes to your health.

When I lost 85 pounds after high school many of my relationships changed. Friends became foes, my boyfriend became jealous and abusive, and my family found it hard to believe that it was actually happening. My relationships with everyone changed, and not for the better at first. If I was a less self assured person, if I had any doubt of the importance of being healthy, I would have let these negative behaviors derail my goals. Certain friends would encourage bad eating habits, others would put me down to tare down my newly found self-esteem. Jealous friends would say things to belittle me and my appearance. My boyfriend at the time became verbally abusive, in fear that my increased confidence inspired by my weight loss would cause me to cheat or leave him.

Still I knew what I wanted for me. I was tired of not being able to wear what I wanted to wear. I was tired of being looked at and stereotyped. I wanted to feel healthy, lighter, free. I wanted to be confident about my appearance, and I didn’t want anyone else to have an unfair advantage over me. Everything changed when I lost weight. I lost friends, I lost a relationship, but I gained so much more. I made new friends, I found a better boyfriend, I went out so much more, discovered new places, and enjoyed my twenties like I never would have been able to do had I not lost the weight. I also added years onto me life, and prevented myself from getting any of the diseases associated with obesity.

The path wasn’t easy, especially for me with my thyroid condition, but I overcame everything and lost the weight. I’ve kept it off for over ten years now, and will never allow the weight to come back. No matter who wants you to stay the same, if change is what you need to be happy, you can’t let anyone hold you back. Be the you that you always wanted to be, and you’ll always be happy regardless of who else is in or not in your life.

Dear John,

Sometimes I’m down for Greek yogurt, but sometimes I want cake. Yes, you’re incredibly handsome. Yes, I have had a crush on you since your days on Full House. And no, I still can’t believe Rebecca left you, even if it was for Jerry O’Connell. However, sometimes a girl just needs a piece of cake.

That being said my current obsession is Greek yogurt. Growing up in a 1/2 Persian household we called it “Persian Yogurt” or “must“. We put it on rice, mix it with cucumbers, eat it in our soup. It’s kind of a garnish of sorts or appetizer. We do not however mix it with fruit. When I first tried this “Greek yogurt” with fruit I was like, “What the…?” I was used to having it with savory items, so it was a bit shocking to my taste buds. Then as I got used to the flavors, I grew to enjoy it.

Currently I’m eating the Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt. Sorry Mr. Stamos again, I know you advertise Oikos, but at least they’re both Dannon products. I admit I haven’t gotten to trying Oikos yet, but the Light & Fit version has me hooked. What Dannon has done is create a yogurt that has under 100 calories and seven grams of protein. You would think at 80 calories the portion size would be tiny, but that’s the beauty of Greek yogurt. It has less fat and fewer calories than your typical diet yogurt. I don’t know about you, but after a cup of Yoplait I’m like, “Did I just eat something?” I end up using my spoon to try to scrape up anything that may possibly be left in there.

That’s not the case with the Light and Fit Greek Yogurt. After a workout at the gym I’m pretty hungry. I workout in the evenings typically, because I work full time. The best way to gain weight is to eat late at night, but it’s hard to get to sleep when you’re feeling maximum hunger. Plus, you’re supposed to have protein after you workout. The solution: I have a Dannon Greek Yogurt and a protein bar. Combined they’re around 25 grams of protein. I’m full, I haven’t had too many calories, and I’ve taken care of my after-work0ut protein need.

While Greek yogurt is a great healthy treat, it will never replace “real” deserts. If you substitute during the week, you can treat yourself to something sweet during the weekend. Life is about moderation. If you want to stay on a healthy diet for the long run, you can’t deprive yourself. Enjoying the delicious things in life isn’t naughty. The French eat pastries, the Italians eat gelato, the point is to have a little here and there and not over-indulge. Have some Greek yogurt when you’re trying to shed the pounds, and treat yourself to some stellar sweets on “Heck Yeah” days. I call them Heck Yeah days, because the term “cheat day” makes it sound like you’re doing something bad. It can ruin your mood/self esteem, and also because on these days I say “Heck Yeah” to what I want.

Check back with MeeshMe soon to learn some more great weight loss tips.